SOMETIMES wise heads come on young shoulders - and that's what YMCA

chiefs are hoping after handing Mava Iosefa the captaincy! York-based hooker Andy Nunns was originally installed as first-team

skipper this season. But a re-shuffle in his police work schedule has led to him missing

all but the first game of the season, so club officials have finally decided the team needs fresh leadership, and have appointed the strong-running Kiwi centre to take over the role. "I didn't really have much choice in the matter," reflected

20-year-old Mava. "I was more or less told I was being made captain, and that was it.

"Obviously, I'm looking forward to taking on the role, although it's

a very big step up for me, because I've only just turned 20, and there are quite a few older heads in the team. "I've never asked anybody to do anything; all I want to do is just

lead from the front and hope the lads will follow that lead. "It's difficult for me telling far more experienced players what to

do. "But I'm sure they are able to motivate themselves."

The former Charles Wesley College student from Auckland is now in

his second season at Laund Hill and the club are now starting to see his true potential as an explosive centre - helped no doubt by having an extra year's experience, plus having enjoyed a summer of relaxation. "When I arrived here last year, I'd just finished a season back

home, so after two back-to-back seasons I just needed a bit of a rest," he added. "I didn't go home this summer, and had thought about perhaps playing

some cricket, but I really needed some re-hab to give my body chance to recover." After three victories and a draw, YMCA are presently fifth in the

table going into today's clash at Malton & Norton, and Iosefa has not ruled out his side's promotion chances. "I definitely feel we can finish in the top two or three, without a

shadow of a doubt," he continued. "Leaders Pontefract are really the only ones who pose a strong

threat, and with the exception of one match (the first against Keighley who they beat 53-6), they have not beaten the others by that many points, and only pipped Wheatley by five the previous week. "So I don't fear anyone in our division.

"I do think we need to get some stability in the forwards, because

at the moment we are changing players every game which is making it difficult to dominate up front. "It's very hard to find consistency when we're changing the side

from week to week. "We also need to go forward instead of repeatedly looking back, and

if that means bringing in young players so be it. "Trav (James Travis) has the potential to become a good player, he

made some good choices last week, but needs more experience. "I also think Simon Wilson will be a very good player in time, but

he needs the chances and also to gain in confidence. "Against Trafford last week we were trying too much in the first

half. We were looking for it and trying to find the game. "But I thought we did a little better in the second half, and on the

whole did alright for the squad we had out." Iosefa is hoping to pop home to Auckland to visit his mum at

Christmas ("I've still got to negotiate that"), but he can certainly claim an improved start to his tenure as YM skipper, as they have won all three games since he had the mantle thrust upon him.